US President Trump is expected to announce a move to Phase II of the ceasefire in Gaza on Wednesday, including the establishment of a peace council and the formation of a Palestinian technocratic government, two sources familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post.
This comes despite the return of all the hostages held in Gaza being a key tenet of the first phase of the ceasefire. To date, Hamas has yet to return the remains of the final hostage still in captivity, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili.
Hamas has been searching for the remains of Gvili in Gaza. Last week, it coordinated with Israel to search the Zeitoun area in northern Gaza.
The news that the American president is expected to announce a move to the second phase of the ceasefire follows a Tuesday evening meeting of the Israeli security cabinet to discuss the upcoming phase.
Report: Gazan figures receive texts notifying of selection to Gaza administrative committee
The Hamas-affiliated Quds News Network also reported on Wednesday morning that sources informed it that figures in Gaza were receiving SMS messages notifying them of their selection to the administrative committee in Gaza. According to Quds, those receiving the texts were also invited to an “urgent meeting.”
In a separate, but related report on Wednesday morning, Quds stated that sources had informed it that discussions regarding the formation of a Gaza administration committee had reached an advanced stage.
According to sources who spoke to the Hamas-linked network, an initial agreement was reached on the names, including that of the committee chairman, of those chosen to sit on the committee.
Hostages forum urges PM Netanyahu to refrain from moving to Phase II
Following the media reporting that the American administration was set to announce a transition to the second phase of the ceasefire, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to go forward with it.
"This morning, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, together with the Gvili family, is calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu to honor his commitment, as he promised the family in private conversations, not to proceed to Phase II until Ran is brought home," the forum stated.
The forum added that moving forward with the ceasefire deal before Gvili's return could "condemn Ran to permanent disappearance."